adjektivA2
Adjektiv som substantiv
[Adjectives as Nouns]Sometimes adjectives are used alone without the noun they refer to, especially when referring to people. The adjective functions as a noun, but retains adjective inflection forms.
1. Using Adjectives Alone for People
Sometimes we use adjectives alone without the noun they refer to, especially for people:
Mange unge liker popmusikk. (unge = unge mennesker)Many young people like pop music. (unge = young people)
De gamle husker hvordan byen var før. (de gamle = gamle mennesker)The elderly remember how the city was before. (de gamle = old people)
Den eldste heter Nils. (den eldste = den eldste personen)The oldest is named Nils. (den eldste = the oldest person)
Singular and plural forms:
Indefinite Singular
en gammel(an old one)
Definite Singular
den gamle(the old one)
Indefinite Plural
gamle(old ones)
Definite Plural
de gamle(the old ones)
Indefinite Singular
en ung(a young one)
Definite Singular
den unge(the young one)
Indefinite Plural
unge(young ones)
Definite Plural
de unge(the youth)
Indefinite Singular
en voksen(an adult)
Definite Singular
den voksne(the adult)
Indefinite Plural
voksne(adults)
Definite Plural
de voksne(the adults)
Indefinite Singular
en eldre(an elderly person)
Definite Singular
den eldre(the elderly person)
Indefinite Plural
eldre(elderly people)
Definite Plural
de eldre(the elderly)
| Indefinite Singular | Definite Singular | Indefinite Plural | Definite Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
en gammelan old one | den gamlethe old one | gamleold ones | de gamlethe old ones |
en unga young one | den ungethe young one | ungeyoung ones | de ungethe youth |
en voksenan adult | den voksnethe adult | voksneadults | de voksnethe adults |
en eldrean elderly person | den eldrethe elderly person | eldreelderly people | de eldrethe elderly |
We can also do this with comparative and superlative forms:
Barn skal ikke straffes for det de voksne gjør.Children should not be punished for what adults do.
Den gamle satt på benken og leste ei avis.The old man was sitting on the bench reading a newspaper.
Det bor mange eldre i dette nabolaget. (eldre = eldre mennesker)Many elderly live in this neighborhood.
De rikeste bor i store hus. (de rikeste = de rikeste personene)The richest live in big houses.
I Norge regnes man gjerne som eldre når man er over 65 år, mens de over 75–80 år regnes som gamle.In Norway, one is usually considered elderly (eldre) over 65, while those over 75–80 are considered old (gamle).
2. Adjectives Commonly Functioning as Nouns
With certain adjectives we almost never use a noun. We think of them as nouns, but they are grammatically adjectives!
Indefinite Singular
en ansatt(employee)
Definite Singular
den ansatte(the employee)
Indefinite Plural
ansatte(employees)
Definite Plural
de ansatte(the employees)
Meaning
ansatt person(employee)
Indefinite Singular
en arbeidsledig(unemployed)
Definite Singular
den arbeidsledige(the unemployed)
Indefinite Plural
arbeidsledige(unemployed people)
Definite Plural
de arbeidsledige(the unemployed)
Meaning
uten jobb(without job)
Indefinite Singular
en arbeidsløs(jobless)
Definite Singular
den arbeidsløse(the jobless person)
Indefinite Plural
arbeidsløse(jobless people)
Definite Plural
de arbeidsløse(the jobless)
Meaning
uten arbeid(jobless person)
Indefinite Singular
en kriminell(criminal)
Definite Singular
den kriminelle(the criminal)
Indefinite Plural
kriminelle(criminals)
Definite Plural
de kriminelle(the criminals)
Meaning
lovbryter(lawbreaker)
Indefinite Singular
en kristen(Christian)
Definite Singular
den kristne(the Christian)
Indefinite Plural
kristne(Christians)
Definite Plural
de kristne(the Christians)
Meaning
kristen person(Christian person)
Indefinite Singular
en ufør(disabled person)
Definite Singular
den uføre(the disabled person)
Indefinite Plural
uføre(disabled people)
Definite Plural
de uføre(the disabled)
Meaning
ufør person(disabled person)
Indefinite Singular
en voksen(adult)
Definite Singular
den voksne(the adult)
Indefinite Plural
voksne(adults)
Definite Plural
de voksne(the adults)
Meaning
voksen person(adult person)
| Indefinite Singular | Definite Singular | Indefinite Plural | Definite Plural | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
en ansattemployee | den ansattethe employee | ansatteemployees | de ansattethe employees | ansatt personemployee |
en arbeidsledigunemployed | den arbeidsledigethe unemployed | arbeidsledigeunemployed people | de arbeidsledigethe unemployed | uten jobbwithout job |
en arbeidsløsjobless | den arbeidsløsethe jobless person | arbeidsløsejobless people | de arbeidsløsethe jobless | uten arbeidjobless person |
en kriminellcriminal | den kriminellethe criminal | kriminellecriminals | de kriminellethe criminals | lovbryterlawbreaker |
en kristenChristian | den kristnethe Christian | kristneChristians | de kristnethe Christians | kristen personChristian person |
en uførdisabled person | den uførethe disabled person | uføredisabled people | de uførethe disabled | ufør persondisabled person |
en voksenadult | den voksnethe adult | voksneadults | de voksnethe adults | voksen personadult person |
Note the difference: 'de unge' (the youth, adjective) vs. 'ungene' (the children, noun).